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DISCOURSE: 



S^^j~Q&^j>&&&2M 







DELIVERED , 



ON OCCASION OF THE FUNERAL OF 



THE HON. JOHN M. HOLLEY 



3;v THE prks*byteb.ia:v church, at l.irO!XS, A. V 



MARCH 2(5, 1848 



BY REV. I. INGRAHAM. 



I'lBLISHBO BY REQUEST. 



Ll'ONS: 
W. N. & J. COLE, PRINTERS. 




Gass £ ^11 



Book. 



,■9 
H7IH ■ 



DISCOURSE; 

h 



DELIVERED, 



ON OCCASION OF THE FUNERAL -OF 

stT 

THE HON. JOHN M. HOLLEY, 



IN THE PREaBVTJERIA!^ CHURCH, AT ]LTOfVS, N, Y. 



MARCH 26, 1848: 



BY REV. I. INGRAHAM. 



J»CBUSHED BY REQUEST. 



LYONS: 
W. N. & J. COLE, PUBLISHERS. 



1^1 Ts^ 



NOTE. 
In justice to the author of the following Discourse, it should hr 
said, that it was prepared amid the dissipation of mind attendant up- 
on the dissolution of his pastoral rela:tion, and the manuscript givcu 
to the publisher without any opportunity "to copy or revise it. 



DISCOURSE. 



Isaiah lv: 9. — " For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your 
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." 



This declaration of Jehovah is made to the ^ row for sin, and thus when they might justly 
anciect Israel. The Jews constituted for a long ^ anticipate punishment, they receive pardon. — 
time not only the Church of God, embodying ( The wicked forsakes his way and the unright- 
for the time being all the faith, the holy love and ) eous man his thoughts, they return unto the 
practical godliness on earth, but they also con- ) Lord and he has mercy upon them, and unto 
stituted a distinct civil community. Their ec- ; their God who abundantly pardons. " Out of 
clesiastical organization — their civil constitution { the eater comes forth meat, and out of the 
and laws, were formed under the immediate in- < strong comes forth sweetness." Thus the ways 
etruction and direction of God. Their sacred ( of the Almighty towards them were past finding 
— their political institutions, were therefore dis- J out. The footsteps of the infinite God in his 
similar from those of all other nations. As they ? dealings with them were often thus in the deep 
were elevated by the divinity of their religion, I waters, far beyond their most successful at- 
and exalted by their civil polity, far above all the nempts to penetrate. And when they stood 
heathen nations, far more was justly expected ) amazed at the mysterious disappointment of 
of them than of others. The dealings of God ) their fondest hopes, or beheld the face of a 
with this people furnished abundant evidence of 5 smiling Providence looking out from behind 
his rich and sovereign benificence, and were S some dark cloud, which had struck terror to the 
marked with peculiar and afflicting tokens of ( stoutest hearts, the only explanation which Je- 
his high displeasure at their ingratitude and re- ( hovah condescends to make of these mysteries 
bellion. Many of Jehovah's ways with them — ( — the only account which he need give, or could 
both merciful and afflictive, forbearing and pu- ? give of the matter, is, " My thoughts are not 
nitive — were deeply mysterious. They could ^ your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, 
not penetrate the cloud behind which the God ') saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher 
of their fathers often hid himself in the deep ) than the earth, so are my ways higher than your 
mysteries of his providence. They had often S ways, and ray thoughts than your thoughts." 
received the most just but severe chastisements ( A thought suggested by this scripture, adapt- 
when they were looking only for the divine < ed to this deeply solemn and afflicting occasion, 
smiles, and joyfully anticipating the rich, ripe ( and of immense importance to be cherished, is, 
fruits of peace and national prosperity. And ) that the government of God involves mysteries 
then again when conscious of great transgres- ) which no finite intellect is cajjuble to comprehend 
sions and national offences, and cherishing dis- ; or competent to explain, 

tressing forebodings of deserved public judg- ) The mind of man in no way so fully betrays 
ments, behold the God of Israel moves on be- > its own folly and utter imbecility, as by the er- 
fore them in acts of kind forbearance, and in the S roneous and limited conceptions which it forms 
orderings of his providence, mercies and not \ of the character and government of the infinite 
judgments — forgiveness and not retribution, is ( Jehovah. And though so often and so fully and 
the portion of their cup. The spirit of the Lord ( feelingly rebuked for his pesumption in at- 
icoves them to deep humiliation and godly sor- c tempting to sit in judgment upon the ways of 



the omniscieafc One, j'et man is not deterred ) back upon his own acknowledged imbecility, 
from the foolish, the impious attempt to arraign \ and confess, "such knowledge is too wonderful 
this divine economy, as learned from its partial s for mo — it is high — I cannot attain unto it." — 
developments. " So adverse to our wishes of- \ One step, one short step in the deep profound 
ten, as well as contrary to our expectations, are ( of Divine mysteries and infinite wisdom, and 
the events which are sometimes brought to pass \ the strongest intellect, human or angelic, is • 
in the course of this divine administration, that^ overpowered, and all its boasted reason con- 
we even dare to question the wisdom and good- ) founded. The stronger any finite intellect, the 
n ess of the Author. The end which the sov- ) more expanded, disciplined and matured its 
ereign Disposer has in view? is kept out of s powers, the more clear and full its apprehen- 
sight ; the means by which his holy purposes \ sions of its weakness, when attempting to find 
are to be accomplished, are of course unex- f out God ; the more ready, frank and ingenuous 
plained, and the consequence is that the mind, / are its confessions of imbecility. At every new 
unless it be sustained by an unwavering faith in / elevation which man gains from which to take 
the moral' perfections of God, sinks into disbe- > a little wider survey of Jehovah's works — at 
lief of the universality or the rectitude of his ; every new medium through which he is per- 
administration." Or, if the mind, enlightened ^ mitted to look out upon Divine Providence, and 
in some degree by a ray from the inner sanctu- \ at every new station where, in new combina- 
ary, and moving in unison with a heart subdued \ tions, and new relations, he may see the in- 
to the obedience of the Cross, reposes with fil- \ scrutable workings of the infinite Mind, we 
ial confidence in the wisdom and rectitude of ^ may hear with new emphasis and increased 
the great I AM, yet still its apprehensions are ) solemnity, the declaration of the text — " For 
extremely limited and imperfect. ) as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so 

What would be thought of the little insect ; are my ways higher than your ways, and my 
that should presume, with its limited instinct, to ) thoughts than yqur thoughts." 
embrace fully the design, or to judge and con- { The supreme government under which man 
demn the progressive execution of some master- \ and all creatures live, and all things exist, is a 
piece of the eminent artist in painting or sculp- ^ government planned and administered by one 
ture ? How indicative of presumption and vain ^ infinite, immutable, eternal, all-controlling Spir- 
self-conceit would be the infant mind attempting ^ it. This government is essentially and eternal- 
to grasp the " principia" of Newton, or to trace ) ly one. It is so minute as to embrace the fall- 
the laws of inductive philosophy as unfolded by ^ ing of a sparrow, the smallest insect, and yet 
Bacon, or to grasp the complicated demonstra- } go inconceivably extensive and general as to 
tions of Euclid ! Yet the meanest insect comes S comprehend the great whole. One Mind, infi- 
nearer the full measure of exquisite taste and ( nite in knowledge and wisdom — one Being, in- 
giant skill of a Michael Angelo, and the mind of < finitely benevolent and just, governs. " His 
the youngest infant is incomparably nearer the \ throne is in the heavens, and his kingdom rul- 
ability to comprehend the labors of the most ^ eth over all." This government, as exercised 
profound, the ripest scholar, than is man in his \ over, and ordering the events of this world, is 
mature, his collected mtellect, to sit in jugdment \ termed, usually, divine providence. This par- 
on the ways of Jehovah, or to comprehend or S ticular and general providence, has nothing in 
explain fully the deep mysteries of that Provi- ) it, or about' it, allied to blind or inevitable fate, 
dence which is but the gradual development of) There is nothing in it inconsistent or incompat- 
the universal plan devised by the infinite Mind s ibie with those subordinate contingences which 
and continually executing by Almighty Power. X form the true basis of free moral agency, and 
Man fails and ever must fail in his vain attempts \ allow the full and free exercise of those voli- 
to search, unaided, the deep things of God. — \ tions in man which are essential to moral obli- 
However venturous his flight — however giddy ? gation. "The heart of man deviseth his way, 
he may be in the fancied height to which he > but the Lord directeth his steps." Here man 
soars, still his destiny is, sooner or later, to fall and all finite intelligences are morally free, an(| 



b 



therefore justly accountubie, while Jehovah 
moves on his own undisturbed aflfairs, and 
accomplishes without fail, and without change, 
his own high and holy and benevolent designs. 
The occasion does not demand that I should 
dwell upon the immensely important, and to 
the intelligent christian the delightful theologi- 
cal features of the text. Doctrinal discussion 
is not now so much demanded as lessons of 
practical wisdom. Doctrine is important, is 
fundamental in all the religion of the Bible. — 
Sound theory and sound principle are essen- 
tial to all sound character and consistent prac- 
tice. But our aim should be, and is, on this oc- 
casion, to chasten the spirit of man, to check 
his pursuit, his expectations of earthly good, 
and to elevate the soul, by the contemplation of 
that goverment which is supreme in rightful 
authority, indefinitely minute in its subjects, in- 
finite in its wisdom and rectitude, and incom- 
prehensible in -its ubiquity. Under this one 
eternal government man is placed, both in his 
probation and in his immortality. All the econ- 
omy of God, both natural and moral, both of 
Jaw and of gospel, of justice and of grace, of 
punishment and of salvation, is embraced har- 
moniously in this one perfect, infinite immuta- 
ble government, high in its perfect rectitude, 
deep in its mysteries and boundless in its de- 
signs. " The Lord indeed reigneth, let the 
earth rejoice, let the multitude of isles be glad 
thereof." He is a God who, from the loftiest 
created intellect, hideth himself in his own in- 
finity. The ways of Jehovah in this minute, 
this universal, this infinitely wise, and benevo- 
lent and righteous government, are incompre- 
hensible to any finite mind. To man they are 
necessarily, and often deeply mysterious. — 
They not unfrequently blot out his brightest 
earthly hopes, cut off his most fondly cherish- 
ed expectations, and conflict with the decisions 
of his most mature and sober reason. True, 
God, in his kind, his priceless Revelation to 
man, has condescended to teach us all that we 
need to know of his eternal, inscrutable govern- 
ment, all that is necessary to secure our confi- 
dence, to confirm every good hope, to allay all 
anxiety except that which justly arises from 
conscious guilt, to furnish the strongest motives 
for prompt, cheerful obedience, and to seek su- 



'- premely our highest iuterests, our rnost endur- 
I ing honor in him. And yet after all that is ne- 
l cessary is revealed, much remains unexplained. 
I And the language of Christ to his disciples, is 
applicable to all under the mysterious provi- 
dence of God : " What I do now ye know 
not, but ye shall know hereafter." 

There are many and suflScient reasons why 
the orderings of Divine Providence in the ad- 
ministration of the one immutable, universal 
government, should be often so deeply myste- 
rious to us. Man reasons and plans from very 
limited views. The loftiest, the best powers of 
man, can collect, comparatively, but few facts 
from which to reason. God has continually 
before his Omniscient Mind, all facts. Man can 
; understand only a few of those relations which 

> all objects around him, and of which he has 
) any knowledge, sustains. God sees and under- 
^ stands all the possible relations of all things. — 
( Man can see only some of the more immedi- 
< ate and temporary consequences of events 
( which he desires, and labors to bring about, or 
l which he dreads, and labors to prevent or avoid. 
( God sees all consequences, the most combined, 
} the most remote, the ultimate ones. But es- 
) pecially, man's moral powers are not in harmo- 
) ny with the infinitely holy One. Man is not 
\ only finite in his intellect, and therefore cannot 
\ search out the deep things of God, he is also a 
( transgressor, deeply depraved in all his moral 
( nature, and therefore desires not the knowl- 

> edge of God's ways. To such a subject no 
} wonder that the universal, righteous govern- 
) raent of the Most High is not only not corapre- 
} hended, but often denied and misunderstood. 

God's thoughts, not only as an infinite being, 
but also as a holy, a righteous Governor, must 
be incomparably higher than man's. 

Man generally, and mostly, plans for time ; 
yea, for a few short days or years of earthly 
existence. And if in his best estate, and by 
the power of regenerating grace, by the teach- 
ings and guidance of the Holy Spirit, he is in- 
fluenced to live not for time but for eternity, 
still all his higher and holier plans and desires 
regard only an eternal future. God, in his di- 
vine plan of operations, in his scheme of gov- 
ernment, embraces a perfect eternity, an eter- 
; nity past, ns well as eternity future. Such a 



government, having due regard to all in such an 
eternity, miist'embrace events, to all finite in- 
telligences deeply mysterious. 

Man, in his highest regard for rights, in the 
•utmost expansion of his, benevolence, in the 
fartherest reach and comprehensiveness of pub- 
lic spirit, plans only for one nation, or at most 
for a few nations of his fellow men. And oft- 
en the ways of man have regard to himself, or 
his family or immediate friends. But the gov- 
ernment of God, the plan of Omniscience, em- 
braces alike, and regards alike and equally, the 
universe. God in his providential orderings, 
consults equally the high interests of the im- 
measurable, the incomprehensible whole. 

Here are gathered reasons abundant why 
the administration of the divine government — 
why the providential dealings are so often be- 
yond the range of man's understanding. Tru- 
ly the supreme Governor of the universe "is 
glorious iu his holiness, fearful in praises, doing 
wonders. His righteousness is like the great 
mountains, his judgments are a great deep." — 
" He covereth himself with light as with a gar- 
ment, he stretcheth out the heavens as a cur- 
tain. He layeth the beams of his chambers in 
the waters, he maketh the clouds his chariots, 
he walketh upon the wings of the wind, and 
hath his way in the whirlwind and in the 
storm." No wonder that Jehovah should say 
to his creature man — "As the heavens are 
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher 
than your ways, and my thoughts than your 
thoughts." 

And what a solemn confirmation of this truth 
— what a deeply affecting and impressive com- 
ment on this scripture, is furnished by the 
death of that endeared friend, that honored fel- 
low citizen whose remains are soon to be com- 
mitted to the narrow house. When the ways 
of the sovereign Jehovah bring to death a 
Kent, an Adams, a Spencer, we are ready to 
suppose that the true, the sufficient reasons for 
it are by us apprehended. They had filled up, 
and more than filled up, the full measui-e of the 
years of man's life now in the flesh. They 
had answered, and more than answered, the 
expectations of their friends and their country. 
The nation and the race had reaped in full the 
beneiit of their social and intellectual powers. 



They had, as man would judge, fully, as thoy 
had honorably and usefully, served their gene- 
ration. In all earthly honor and usefulness, 
they came to the grave as a " shock of corn 
fully ripe." But when in the orderings of the 
same inscrutable Providence, the shafts of 
death reach a Harrison, a Wright, a Hol- 
LET, we can but cover our faces and exclaim — 
" thy way, O God, is in the sea, and thy path 
in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not 
known." And while thus confounded — thus 
humbled, a voice from the eternal Throne ad- 
dresses us in all its rightful, its benevolent maj- 
esty, " Be still, and know that I am God. I 
will be exalted among the nations, I will be ex- 
alted in the earth." And may the submissive, 
the pious reply of our hearts be, " Even so 
Father, for it seemeth good in thy sight." 

I might, perhaps, with propriety, here close. 
But as the afflicting Providence which has led 
to this train of remark has removed from us by 
death, one who sustained to this community, to 
this State and Nation, important public rela- 
tions, a few brief, modest and sober allusions to 
the man we loved and honored, may not be un- 
timely or uncalled for. Not that I would abuse 
the memory of the dead, by an indulgence in 
extravagant eulogy. Nothing could be more 
uncongenial, more abhorrent to the departed 
spirit who is the object of these allusions, nothing 
more incongruous with the appropriate exer- 
cises of the sanctuary, or oftensive to God. — 
Such eulogy at the piesent day is too frequent- 
ly bestowed where it is the most needed, rath- 
er than where it is the most deserved. 

The natural endowments of Mr. Holley 
were of the higher order. He would have be- 
trayed a high trust which his Creator reposed 
in him, had he failed to cultivate and employ 
those endowments for public usefulness. He 
did not fail thus to cultivate and devote the tal- 
ents with which he was so highly favored. — 
His mind received its early, its important lite- 
rary and classical training at Yale College. He 
therefore brought to the study of his profes- 
sion a mind disciplined by a full, thorough, col- 
legiate course of liberal education. He made 
choice of an honorable, a useful profession. — 
That profession he honored. As a Counsellor, 
he was honorable, frank and safe. As an Ad^ 



i 



Tocate, he cxcellRil. His professional charac- extracts from his latest correspondence, exhib 

ter placed him deservedly high in the estima- ; iting his religious views and feelings, the fol- 

tion of his compeers^ ( lowing was dictated by him in a letter of the 

Thoroughly educated himself, Mr. Holloy ( 24th of January last : 

could and did appreciate the value of mental > , , .. /• i »u .. ■* ■ n n . -^u «.._ 

' "^ ; •' I sometimes feel that it is all well with me 

training. He therefore took a deep interest in ) ;„ t^is matter, and that I look to the Rock of 
the cause of education in this community. The ) Ages with hope. 1 cannot but believe that 
plans which he proposed and favored, were ev- ] speculatively I am in the right way ; but I have 
, , . 1 , , rr \ } many seasons of doubt and difficult}', when 1 

er large, comprehensive and noble. To such \ ^^,^ J^ ^^ g,,^^ .j. ^j^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^_ 

plans he was ever ready and foremost to devote < f^g^. Still. I surrender myself entirely into the 
his time, his talents, his property and his influ- '- hands of God, and I pray that througlf His Son 
ence. most efficiently and liberally. In the ( I may find that salvation for which He continu- 

. - . 1 1 1 r. .1 ) ally intercedes at the Eternal 1 hrone. 

causo of education among us, he has lelt tne ( •' 

results of his co-operation, his care and his lib- ^ Subsequently to these expressions of his re- 
eraiity, and comprehensive plans, which, I trust, ) ligious feelings, and during the last days of his 
will be a signal blessing to many generations of ) mortal life, I am authorized to say that those 
children and vouth. ; doubts which had so much, and so long troubled 

The talents of our departed friend pre-emi- ^him, were mercifully dispelled, and he permit- 
nently qualified him for usefulness in the halls S ted with confidence and joy to appropriate the 
of legislation. In the deliberative Assembly, his '- gracious, the sure promises of the Gospel to 



natural and acquired talents were the most ful- ( himself, and to contemplate his departure under 
ly and efficiently developed, and the most con- < the sustaining, cheering influence of a full 
spicaously exhibited. In our State Legislature } Christian hope. May this dying testimony of 
he had given fair promise of eminence in this / one in whom all this community reposed confi- 
department of human effort. And the free- ; dence for intelligence and honest}', to the reali- 
raen of this Congressional district in 1846, with ) ty, the supreme importance of evangelical relig-- 
high expectations, elected him to take part in { ion, and experimental piety, redound to the glory 
the councils of the Nation. But alas ! He \ of God, the honor of the Redeemer, and bo 



v/hose ways are higher than ours, had deter- 
mined otherwise. The afflicting result is 
kpown to us all. The year of distressing anxi- 



sanctified to the eternal good of this community. 

To the abundant, the consoling, sustaining 

and sanctifying grace of God in Christ, I would 



ety, of hope and fear, has closed, and confirm- ( commend this bereaved family, and all the 
ed our most afflicting apprehensions. As a ^ mourning relatives. And may we all be influ- 
man, his highest eulogist is, and will be, the \ enced to seek immediately, and through the a- 
memory of this community ; and the deep \ toning Lamb, that peace of God which passeth 
sympathy, the sincere, the warm affections of ^ all understanding. "Boast not thyself of to- 
the people, is his best praise. \ morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may 

But while the God of Nature and Providence ) ''""§ forth." 
had done much for Mr. Holley, we would hum- " ^y nature's law, what may be may be now ; 
, , , , , /-, 1 ,» ,--1 , 1 ■ •„ ) ' There's no prerogative in human hours. 

bly hope that tne God of Grace has done still I .. ,„ ^„^^„ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ bolder thought can rise 



more. For several years at least, he had spec- 
ulatively received the orthodox, the essentially 



" Than man's presumption on to-morrow's dawn ! 
"Where is to-morrow? In another world. 
" For numbers this is certain -, the reversn 



evangelical doctrines of the Gospel. As it re- ),,^ ^ . ., • i 

'^ ' ) Is sure to none ; and yet on this perhaps, 

garded his own personal, experimental, saving ; "This peradoejiture, infamous for lies, 
interest in the grace that is in Christ, hope and ; "As on a rock of adamant, we build 
i~ ,),» e I 1- J 1 1 I.. ^ 1 ^^ ) " Our mountain hopes, spin out eternal schemes. 

iloubt for several years had had alternately the ) , ^ ^ , i. ,j 

•^ ./ ( <i j^g ^ye the Fatal Sisters could outspin, 

ascendancy over him. In addition to published ; " And, big with life's futurity, expire." 



in f 




" .,o 




